In most panels, breaker numbers 18 and 20 would be on different legs and would have 240V between them. While it is possible you have a multiwire circuit, I doubt it.

In older homes, the "electrician" would sometimes use a neutral from any convenient location to power the lights on a 3way circuit... and usually not from the same circuit. My guess is this is what you are encountering.

BTW: what are you using to determine the wires are hot? If it is an inductive or proximity tester, it is pretty much useless on old wiring.

As for the glowing lights with the breaker off... it relates back to the randomly tapped neutral.

Advertisement

__________________"Life is hard. Life is harder when you're stupid." John Wayne

In most panels, breaker numbers 18 and 20 would be on different legs and would have 240V between them. While it is possible you have a multiwire circuit, I doubt it.

In older homes, the "electrician" would sometimes use a neutral from any convenient location to power the lights on a 3way circuit... and usually not from the same circuit. My guess is this is what you are encountering.

BTW: what are you using to determine the wires are hot? If it is an inductive or proximity tester, it is pretty much useless on old wiring.

As for the glowing lights with the breaker off... it relates back to the randomly tapped neutral.

Not only the "proximity tester", But the older "Diode" testers (not the ones that work with LED) would pick up on a Neutral, due to the fact that they consume so little power. The best bet would be to test with a pigtail socket and lightbulb. Eliminate confusion Through Education;Don't Drink and Drive, Ever!!!